Children and Allergies

You can often spot kids with allergies from quite a distance because they have what they call the allergic salute. The itchy nose, which can either come in this form or in this form is the hallmark, one of the hallmarks of allergies. When we talk about allergies, we're typically talking about aero-allergies,

meaning allergens that are airborne. They can come from sources in the house. They can come from sources in the environment. Those sources can be natural or artificial. Common examples are dust. Even the most clean houses have some degree of dust. A beloved pet can sometimes also be a great source of allergies.

The most common environmental source is pollen. Pollen can come from trees. And pollen can come from grasses. The most basic thing that a parent should do to help a child with allergies is to the best of their ability avoid the allergy. The simple things we can do include keeping windows closed during high-pollen season. Leaving the air conditioning on,

because the air conditioning actually filters the air. Make sure that your child is taking a bath or a shower -- clean those allergens off. Many over-the-counter options exist that are approved for use in children, something like loratadine or cetirizine. A medicine given typically in the evening before the child goes to sleep

can be all that needs to happen for a child to feel better. If over-the-counter measures are not working, you should probably consult with your physician.